TOP FIVE ART GALLERIES IN MARRAKECH
Marrakech is one of Africa’s most important contemporary art hubs. And no weekend here is complete without diving into the creative scene at one of the city’s art galleries. Here’s our pick.
DaDa
DaDa is one of the city’s most innovative spaces where the exciting contemporary art gallery is housed alongside a bookshop and concert space. There’s also a cantina, restaurant and bar so it’s well worth a visit. Housed in a former bus station just off Djemaa el Fna, DaDa is also packed with inspiring interiors that merge traditional artisanal work with a modern spin – from walls covered in huge bespoke Moroccan carpets to locally-designed modern lighting.
Catharsis Exhibition at DaDa Gallery
Galerie Siniya28
Hadia Temli is the third generation of her family to work in art and founded Galerie Siniya28 in 2016 as a space dedicated to new and emerging artists. Work by both self-taught and academically trained artists connected to Morocco, whether by heritage or lived experience, is shown. Think of it as a kind of creative playground where artists are invited to adopt the gallery like a studio, allowing their work to grow organically within the space. This is the place to go to see who’s shaping up to be the next big names in the contemporary art scene.
Riad Yima
Hassan Hajjaj is best known for his portraits of stars including Madonna, Billie Eilish and Will Smith. But he also puts everyone from Moroccan creatives to henna artists at the centre of his portraiture work. Riad Yima is a gallery meets shop meets tearoom that’s like an extension of his home. Hajjaj is a master of celebrating the vibrancy of Moroccan culture and craftsmanship within modern art. In the heart of the medina, it’s a great place to immerse yourself in his playful world. He’s also got Jajjah – a showroom and cafe in Sidi Ghanem.
MCC
Fatima-Zohra Bennani Bennis opened her first gallery in the medina dedicated to contemporary photography seven years ago, before going on to open a large space in Sidi Ghanem. Moroccan and international artists are invited to work there – often on a large scale. The new space was launched for instance, in 2021 with an exhibition by renowned contemporary Moroccan artist Amine El Gotaib whose project retraced his journey toward Africa in a museum-scale format. More recent exhibitions have showcased the incredible work of leather artist Mo Balaa – seen below.
Montresso Foundation
In the arid countryside outside Marrakech lies the Montresso Art Foundation which is an oasis of creativity. Montresso hosts around 50 artists from all over the world each year for residencies in their nine ateliers. Working with local master craftsmen specialising in wood, resin and metal, they artists create everything from art and photography, to huge sculptures. There’s also a permanent collection of work scattered around the 12-hectare property which has beautiful gardens. You need to book a private visit but it’s well worth it.
